Ponty (for Hawksun)

[Rick and Roll]

Hawksun was asking about Ponty, and I'll start with my quick opinions... Gort, Sharc, other fans..please chime in! (numbering is for ease of typing)

1 Aurora
2 Imaginary Voyage
3 Cosmic Messenger
4 Enigmatic Ocean

These four 70's are must have. Daryl Stuermer is on 1,2,4. 3 has Joaquin Lievano and Peter Maunu, and Holdsworth is also on 4. Different people on the other instruments, but they're all great players.

His first solo one I don't have (something about wings). He's also on some Zappa, and has a live record from that era.

A Taste for Passion (1979) is a bit slow, but I have it. About half and half. this is where he dabbles in synth and loses his edge.

Civilized Evil (1980) is nice. You'll like that one, Stuermer returns. Individual Choice (1982) has my favorite Ponty track, "Far From the Beaten Paths". It's pretty good overall.

The remaining 80's records are decidedly more jazzy and much more mellow (No Absolute Time, The Gift of Time, Storytelling). Tchkola is mostly African rhythms...good for a bit but fizzles out.

Open Mind (1984) is not as good, but sharc is a bit harsh on that

I did a Ponty Rickter Scale about 6 months back. I don't save my shows, but could repeat it. But I'd rather wait another 6 months.

You'll just have to get them on your own.

[GORT]

yeah, that's about it in a nutshell

[mossy]

Aurora is THE Ponty album for me, for what it's worth.

If you don't have any of the albums, start there. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

ps: they are all over the place in vinyl but difficult to find on CD at a reasonable price. I see there's one on Ebay at the mo for $10.98 buy it now out of the US. Believe me, this is unusual.

[roger]

I have an absolutely amazing 2CD Ponty trio album from 1968 with Daniel Humair on drums and Eddy Louiss on organ. great jazz and some far-out playing.

[Rick and Roll]

Good old roger with the jazz gem...I never heard that one....sounds killer!

Mossy, that's right, they're hard to find, did I burn that one for you? Hawk looks like I may need to add some Ponty to my King's X burning!

[sharcnorris]

Thanks

[mailotron]

Hawk,
Ponty met G Duke ( piano Keys) back in 1967 in the USA.
He was in contact with Zappa and was a member of the Mothers of Invention on the three following officials FZ's LP's ( all are imho of huge interest)

Hot rats/ overnite sensation / apostrophe
It is possible that he appears also on some FZ post mortem works ( a lot of)

I don't know about the Two Lp's given by KW but Ponty recorderded an LP back in 1970 called King Kong ( pacific Jazz label , must be an expansive colector these days) wiz the help of some MoI ( Duke, Underwood,. and FZ himself .

Ponty toured with Zappa in 1970/71 and in 1973 .
Bien à toi
MailoFZ

[Hawksun]

Wow! I tought this would degenerate into an argument war.

Joke aside, thanks for the info guys and gals.

[Rick and Roll]

There's one with Stephane Grappeli called "Giants", very old.

Apostrophe and Overnite I have packaged as one cd

[mailotron]

[quote=Rick and Roll]
His first solo one I don't have (something about wings). He's also on some Zappa, and has a live record from that era.

First Ponty's solo LP is called " Upon the wings of music" with his head on a light blue sky background ( if I remember well)
All the " Ponty's distinctive sound "is already present.
I remember I saw Him and his band on a concert broadcasted by a german TV back in 1974, Ponty played a lot of his first and second LP. It was my first contatc with his music and i was instantly charmed. I still have good memories of an instrument called ' milky way" with ponty soloing wiz a lot of effects. very good.
Never seen this TV-show since .. don't know if it is available..
See you
Mailo

[sharcnorris]

Before his best albums in 76 came maybe his finest work that somehow has yet to be mentioned, 1975, Mahavishnu Orch. VISIONS OF THE EMERALD BEYOND

[MrMagoo]

There's also a Grisman & Grappelli album including Daryl Anger and a couple of cameo's by Mark O'Connor - 1981 Paul Masson Winery Saratoga CA. Stunning concert and recording. Not totally Ponty related, but hey, he's played with all of them...

Originally Posted by mossy

Aurora is THE Ponty album for me, for what it's worth.

If you don't have any of the albums, start there. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

ps: they are all over the place in vinyl but difficult to find on CD at a reasonable price. I see there's one on Ebay at the mo for $10.98 buy it now out of the US. Believe me, this is unusual.

I just found one copy of Ponty's Aurora CD for sale on amazon. If you look in the New/Used section bargains are to be had.

Thanks for reminding me about this mossy. We spoke about how good this album is in the past but it slipped my memory.

[Hawksun]

But, how come are his albums so expensive?!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by Hawksun

But, how come are his albums so expensive?!

Good question. I always got them cheap, then on CD cheap. Cozy said on his show he's like a deity....maybe they're considered rare.

Good ol' Cozy - he'll play music even if it's not competely to his liking.

[Hawksun]

Or maybe his distribution company has an extortion fetish.

Still, they seem cheaper than KC's Power to believe around here.

[kirk]

How's this for a Ponty gem/used bin find....?

"King Kong: J.L.Ponty plays the music of Frank Zappa"
Huh? Huh?

Scarc- VOTEB-one of my favorites! I prefer it to the classic MVO
"Birds of Fire".

Great taste, bro!

K